Just some restless youth, feeding their culture hungry souls

Tag Archives: fashion

Post navigation

Lately I have been very active on Instagram and Pinterest, but not so much on WordPress. My subscription payment reminded me I should probably not let this blog die out and so I thought of jumpstarting this page again with some inspiring people.

So basically this list contains a couple of Instapages that inspire and fascinate me, by people who I think are making an impact (be it style-wise, ecological, spiritual, cultural, visual…). Most of them are chasing their dreams with a camera and pretty much all of them are really busy claiming their spot in this world by being their unique selves. I’m all about their vision and mission, and I hope the world will get to know them and I hope this way I can contribute a bit to that.

This is a pretty subjective list of course. You don’t have to agree with what I find fascinating, but who knows, you might think these Instagram accounts are worth a follow and spend a couple of hours exploring their IG mosaic.

It’s a pretty small selection. Mainly featured the ones, I thought were pretty special. To those who do trust my taste… enjoy. Those who don’t, you can always leave suggestions in the comments. I’ll check them out and maybe they make the cut for the next post.

Not quite sure whether to put these activists under Fashion Statement, because they are more about the Statement than the Fashion, but it’s in there and they mention that they make apparel for ‘lovers of equality’. Pins did obviously make a comeback. Yeay for that. I don’t have enough skin to get a tattoo everytime I want to express myself, so pins are a good and slightly less permanent add-on. Also the reason tote bags need to stay happening…

But if you do prefer tattoos to make your statement. This guy has the most elegant, detailed and intricate tattoos I’ve ever seen and yes, I need them everywhere. Definitely check out the rest of his IG for his amazing work.

As statements go Studio Mucci is definitely one… If you have a vision, spread it, and Amina Mucciolo did just that. She likes things colourful and you better know it. When you feel yourself going to a dark place (and you prefer not to be there, because sometimes you just have to be in a dark place… I feel ya), go to her happy place and get your shot of rainbow love. Dark soul exorcism.

They are in your face and does fashion still come in a different colour than activism? I’m all for it, though I haven’t seen much of it in the street, but one thing is for sure: they slay. It’s almost my birthday, so someone get me that trench.

CULTURE / Discovering culture, confetti and vintage

They put young black talent in the spotlight. Be it business, politics, entertainment, sport or fashion, or make that ‘slashes’, because some of these talents crossover into multihyphen career directions. They nail it everytime. Very inspiring and finger on the pulse.

This guy is trying to Save the Sixties (and doing an amazing job btw) and calls himself a ‘mid-century purist’. Check out his work on the Save the Sixties site and see how you can contribute to the project.

PHOTOGRAPHY / The Imagineers

I include this ‘Belgian-Moroccan Dreamer’ because I’ve been a fan of his pictures for a while now. Mainly because my beloved Brussels is usually in the frame, but Othman travels around and seems to snap the world in all his glory.

Like this:

As so many people do, I also love shoes, though I actually despise shoe shopping. If I go out to find shoes with friends, I’m lucky to have any friends left at the end of the trip. Not quite sure why I think it’s such a dreadful activity… Maybe it’s the usually dull displays, the fact that shoes never really look that good in a store where they are just piled en masse on the same shelves, or because I’m extremely picky and take too much time before falling in love with a damn shoe (and I’m impatient).

So when a friend invites you to go watch shoes in an exposition at MoMu, what are you supposed to do? On one hand YEAY, SHOES! and on the other “I hate going out to look at shoes, how dull can it be?”.

I decided to go, because MoMu never lets me down, I love shoes, and I had great company… But I was scared that the expo would be dull. I mean, it’s shoes. You can just look at them, you can’t even buy them or try them on.

So I went to “Footprint – The tracks of Shoes in Fashion” at the ModeMuseum in Antwerp. And guess what, I didn’t regret it or get bored for even one second. Who knew shoes could be so poetic, arty, punk and glamorous at the same time. It was fast paced and there was a lot of interaction and variation.

Shoes have played huge, legendary roles in movies, have had quite the cultural impact and are essential parts of an outfit (unless walking barefoot is your thing). If iconic dresses deserve attention then shoes deserve it too.

The exhibition takes you back into the glamorous – fashion – history of the shoe, but also takes a closer look at contemporary artists. The collections are diverse and fascinating.

I fell in love with the Salvatore Ferragamo collection. He wasn’t the ‘shoemaker of dreams’ for nothing. MoMu illustrated his corner in the exhibition with a room filled with screens that played classic movies featuring the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Lana Turner (The Postman Always Rings Twice). But the Ferragamo designs also decorated the feet of Nicole Kidman (Australia), Drew Barrymore (Ever After – A Cinderalla story) and Madonna (Evita).

The expo also features designer greats like Maison Margiela, Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Tokio Kumagaï, Roger Vivier, Balenciaga, André Perugia, Vivienne Westwood, Patrick Cox, Raf Simons, Azzedine Alaîa and one of my personal favourites: AF Vandevorst, who combine class,edge and sexy. I brought a visit to another expo a couple of days ago, The Designers (in Bozar), where their gold boots were featured and I fell in love instantly. Too bad there’s no way to afford such shoes with my humble income.

All of these designers show classic as well as innovative designs, how their shoes express rebellion, eighties and contemporary edge, timeless class and the Christian Louboutin – David Lynch collaboration walks the line between sexy and kinky to completely scary…

If you’re in the neighborhood, I advise you to go.

Tickets are for sale here, the book here, go enjoy yourself. It’s even open on Sundays.

Like this:

Visited the Paul Smith exposition in Hasselt quite last-minute with Nele/Foxy Saxophone Lady and Melissa from mellowantsmore. Unfortunately this also means the exhibition is now closed… I’m sorry, I’m late… but trying to make it up to you at the end of the post. Intrigue? (Of course not, there’s a clue in the title.)

The Hello, My name is Paul Smith expo had been on my to-do list for quite some time. Peeping inside the mind of creative geniuses is one of my favourite pastimes. Luckily, Paul Smith’s world is one of colourful creativity, smudges of madness, pop-up inspiration and instant happiness.

The expo’s lay-out was very pleasant and gave me the feeling of being in a cotton candy cloud, spun from the designer’s pink and radiant mind threads. But it was also built like a maze, that let you visit every nook and cranny of Smith’s creative process. It made you feel slightly (or a lot) less guilty of your own messy desk, weird knickknack/trophy/souvenir collections, and chaotic room decorations…

Really liked how interactive the expo was. We were encouraged to take pictures, there was a carton Paul Smith to take a selfie or to pose with, and you could wander around a recreation of his atelier, his personal bureau, visit his favourite design pieces (not only clothes, also a car!) and personal photos of his muse/wife. There were video and audio installations, a button and inspiration wall, and personal anecdotes and quotes. It oozed charm and cool class, very much in the style of the designer himself.

Ohw yeah, to make up for being so late… There’s a giveaway attached! A DVD from Film & Fashion about Paul Smith (Paul Smith: Gentleman Designer). It’s narrated in English, but you can put Dutch subtitles. All you have to do is answer a simple question (bonus points if you like us on FB or follow us on Twitter).

Like this:

After the 31st of Mars most winter shelters decided winter was officially over and started closing their doors on the thousands of homeless people who were counting on a roof over their heads, sending them back to the streets.

In France alone 140,000 people are affected, of which 30,000 are children. A fact Aurore, an organisation that fights against exclusion and precariousness, didn’t want to go unnoticed. So they launched a campaign to bring this appalling situation to people’s attention. It’s not because the temperatures rise, that the problem melts away.

Aurore decided to raise awareness by raising visibility, using Paris’ glamorous reputation in their advantage, and showing the obvious gap between luxury brand rich and live-on-the-street poor. Aurore Association started hanging a thousand posters in the city center and the North and North-East of Paris, with the slogan: “Ayons l’élégance d’aider ceux qui n’ont rien” (“Be elegant enough to help those who have nothing”) printed on it.

Rémi Noël, the creative mind behind the concept and execution of the poster design, uses luxury brands to get attention for the people who go unnoticed on a daily basis and to confront people with the sad reality. Noël transformed Yves Saint Laurent to “Yves Sans Logement” for the occasion. Christian Dior became “Christian Dehors”. And Jean-Paul Gaultier couldn’t be forgotten either, so he was baptized “Jean-Paul Galère”. Small detail, the luxury brands weren’t asked for permission to cooperate. So in the beginning they might not even have been aware they were part of this project.

The campaign is getting good coverage and reviews. People on Twitter are using the hashtag #Ayonslélégance to express their appreciation. Like “La vraie élégance n’est pas dans les vitrines mais en regardant ceux qui sont sur les trottoirs” (“True elegance is not in the shop windows, but in noticing those who are on the sidewalks”).

In the meantime, the Internet is also eagerly suggesting follow-up slogans like “Dans quel monde Vuitton”; “Hugo Bosse Pas”, transforming Nina Ricci into “Nina n’a rien”, and referring to an older parody that went viral a couple of years ago: “Je Dors Dehors”.

If you feel like helping Aurore in their fight for better living circumstances and against poverty, homelessness and exclusion, visit their website (in French and English), or contact them on their Facebook page or via their Twitter account.

Like this:

Tipped by CBS, listed next to Seinabo Sey and Chance the Rapper by SPIN, and a major hit on the SXSW Instagram reports. Stromae (aka Paul van Haver) has definitely not set foot in America unnoticed.

Even though his French lyrics may not be very accessible to his mainly American audience at SXSW, this didn’t really seem to be an issue. His music, his beat, his act, they are all universal enough to concoct a comprehensible international symphony. By successfully blending hip-hop, indie, pop and electronic dance music, and infusing that melange with ethnic rhythms, Stromae (French slang – verlan – for Maestro) holds the recipe for international hit chart domination.

April 5th Stromae will kick off his North American tour. He will end the Spring tour 19th of April, when he’ll be playing at Coachella Music Festival (!). He will however be touring again in the Fall, and playing at Madison Square Garden (!!!). Yes, I’m liberal with the exclamation marks, but I think these are pretty WOW moments in a musical career.

In the meantime, the Maestro has time to manage his music label, fashion label and attend all sorts of events. He was – for example – a noted guest at Paris Fashion Week. Making a stylish appearance at the Louis Vuitton and Valentino fashion shows.

Wearing his own Mosaert label socks…

And at SXSW he also had some time to set the record straight by explaining that French fries aren’t actually French at all. They are Belgian, and could they please stop lying about it…

And on that note/truth bomb, let’s all just agree with The New York Times:

Can’t choose! Dries Van Noten, Marni, A.F. Vandevorst, An Demeulemeester, Stella McCartney,… I like ethnic and eclectic designs as well as minimalistic.

I like doing my own thing. Of course when I had the money my closet would be 50% Dries Van Noten…

What if you were an animal which one would you be?

I can’t choose between a cat and a fly.
I like cats because they don’t care what you think and they do what they like. I like the ‘in your face attitude’ of felines.
Living as a fly would be very interesting, you can sneak around and find out other people’s dirty little secrets. On the other hand, they don’t live very long. So, to answer this question, I’d like to be a cat.

What artist inspires you?

I respect artists such as Vincent van Gogh, choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, saxophone player Candy Dulfer,… Because they express feelings, thoughts, words,… through their art. And not only theirs, they represent our thoughts, our believes,… And of course they are SO incredibly talented!

What piece of clothing/accessory would you be?

An African inspired necklace. I like the colours and happiness that shines out of it.

What if you were a movie?

Into the wild.

What song would you be?

“Don’t worry, be happy…”

What if you were a city?

Paris! No doubt about that. Nice people, beautiful buildings (musée de louvre) and a perfect combo between interesting things to do and peace.

What’s your favorite quote?

A day not having fun is a day that you didn’t live.

What’s your favorite place to hide from the world?

I have two: my room, with candles and yoga music and in a vintage store.

If you met an interesting stranger, what would you whisper in his/her ear?

Go to Paris with me…

Secret tips on where to get inspiration?

I see inspiration everywhere. When I see a happy kid on the street, but I also find inspiration in magazines, when I travel, listen to music. I believe that, when you open your eyes, you can see so many little things that other people can’t see and that makes me smile.

If you had a superpower what would it be?

I wish I could fly…

Who or what do you want to be when you grow up?

A happy person, not bittered. A good mother maybe. A person who is loved. And a better saxophone player! I think the process of becoming your best self is NEVER finished…

Secret ambitions?

To see the world. Learn from the people who are close to me, and, once again, to be a better and better saxophone player.

Like this:

Last weekend I went to visit the Dries Van Noten exposition in the fashion musuem “ModeMuseum” (MoMu) in Antwerp.

Tip 1: Go visit it. Tip 2: Go visit it on a beautiful Sunday.

From the 13th of February until the 19th of July, MoMu Antwerp invites you into the mesmerizing mind of Dries Van Noten.

And apparently that mind is lined with flower covered walls, moss scented rooms and bejeweled fabrics…
The expo is like walking into Ali Baba’s cave. All kinds of treasures shine and seduce the audience from behind clear glass. Pulling you into the breathtaking universe of Dries Van Noten.

A visit to the exhibition offers you the possibility to take a stroll through the designer’s life, experiences, dreams, and maybe the occasional hallucinatory trip… Everything that inspired and inspires him to create and what made and makes him one of the biggest names in the fashion industry. Inspiration is all around.

I like it when you have something happening by coincidence. Just something in a book is enough. But I prefer a fragment of an image so you are far more free to bring in elements of your own.” ~ Dries Van Noten

In exchange for a small entrance fee you get to visit exotic countries and forgotten eras that worship decadence, elegance and exuberant beauty. You can go accessory picking with Iris Apfel, meet black-and-white movie stars, legendary rock stars, and take a look behind the scenes of the Dries Van Noten production team.

Various different people have inspired me throughout my career. From Francis Bacon to Vassareli, Coco Chanel to Christian Dior, Cecil Beaton, musicians, architects… the list is endless.” ~ Dries Van Noten

Like this:

André 3000 has landed a new gig, or actually his jumpsuits have… The jumpsuits he wore on his Outkast tour are being featured in an Art Basel Miami Beach exhibition in conjunction with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

48 jumpsuits, 96 Converse sneakers, one man with a lot of things to say in under 140 characters,” writes Ashley Brozic, Racked.com

The conversation starting jumpsuits, all adorned with ready-to-tweet messages (some critically political, some philosophical, some just nonsensical, some friendly advice, others heartfelt declarations or blunt statements) are prominently featured in the exhibit and have been the talk of the town… and, uhm, tour.

As provoking, humorous and bold as the man who wore them (except for one which was designed for a toddler), these otherwise plain jumpsuits have been able to create a socially dynamic conversation about language, social media and the further context they may or may not refer to.

The infamous Benjamin was also never one to shy away from harsh truths or uncomfortable questions, made clear once again by placing them bold and blunt on the chest of his tour outfits in social media friendly messages. With successful results, especially for someone who never seemed so fond of Tweets, Facebook statuses and Instagram popularity…
As to why the artist opted for something as simple as a jumpsuit, he had an evenly simple answer:

Because it’s easy to move in, I can easily fold it up, and it’s great tour gear. I can travel across the world and repeat it every night.”

A statement

A much deeper question

A deeper question

Random philosophical statement?

A personal confession

A heartfelt declaration

A friendly reminder

But i feel ya: SCAD + André 3000 Benjamin is more than just that. The exhibition explores fashion, film and painting through the eyes of three dynamic artists, not just André 3000.

The project features fashion innovator-artist-performer-musician-actor André 3000 Benjamin, who designed these jumpsuits to celebrate 20 years of Outkast and made them a crucial part of his and Big Boi’s reunion tour as one of hip-hop’s most legendary groups.

But it also features filmmaker Greg Brunkalla, whose recent work includes interactive installations and advertisements for Nike, HP, and Lincoln; music videos for Vampire Weekend; and a series of intimate celebrity interviews for The New York Times and W titled Screen Tests, which earned him three Emmy nominations and a Webby Award.

Painter Jimmy O’Neal was also an important part of the project. His work focuses on the sciences of physics and biology and he has been featured prominently in international galleries including exhibitions in Holland, Zurich, France and Atlanta. Interesting side fact: O’Neal was listed in the 1995 Guinness Book of World Records for creating the world’s largest painting (80,000 square feet), which sparked his interest in large interactive installations.

In the video below André sits with Paula Wallace, President and Founder of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), to discuss his Outkast reunion tour and “i feel ya” exhibition.

Karl Lagerfeld has done it again. When he zigs he zags, and when you think he’s gonna zag, he zigs just for the hell of it. When the fashion guru is not busy being a brilliant photographer or the architect of some kind of fabulous event, whilst pampering Choupette, he publishes his own newspaper. Yes, the man lifts multitasking to a new level.

If I didn’t already love him because of the creative mastermind he is, I do now more than ever because he confesses to being “a paper freak” to Women’s Wear Daily (WWD).

I love paper. I’m a paper freak. Paper is the material I use for sketching. I always need to have paper under my fingers in order to express myself. I like newspapers. Maybe the iPad is very modern and everything, and I’m not against it, but I like the physical contact. And the physical contact of metal and glass is not as sensuous as paper.”

You tell ‘m! They won’t listen to me.

Books, newspapers, sketch books, magazines… where does he find the time to keep up? Apparantly he barely does…

I read whenever I can, but you know, between the collections, the photos, and all the other things I do, interviews included, there is not so much time left, huh?” – Karl Lagerfeld to WWD.

But still, he managed to publish a gazette.

What to expect? Well, the magazine is mainly Karl in pages. It features his talents for sketching, fashion insight, wordplay, photography and humor prominently, and a couple of pages are reserved for advertising (for his own brands). Like in every decent paper, there will also be a comic strip and it wouldn’t be ‘fashion’ without some street-style elements. Lagerfeld will also treat his readers to a list of hot spots and who doesn’t want to know what he finds hot and where you can spot him? I’m hooked.

And don’t you worry, Choupette will have her part. The fashionable cat was hired as a guest editor and reporter and won’t hesitate to shine her light over the going-ons in the world. Several other contributors will also bring you more exclusive insights into the amazing universe of Karl Lagerfeld.

The newspaper also carries Lagerfeld’s fall campaign picturing model Kati Nescher posing in a mock newsstand stuffed with copies of The Karl Daily.

Check out The Karl Daily and enter the Karl world by visiting his website, Karl.com.

Don’t forget to like Karl Lagerfeld’s facebookpage for more interesting (& stylish) footage. Because he may share my love for paper, he’s also very aware of the visual world. Being an accomplished photographer and director, he spices up several social media feeds with his classy videos and teasing pictures.

PS. Eternal reckless love for the animal who finds me one of those paper Karl Lagerfeld newspapers… I haven’t been able to get my hands on one – yet.

Like this:

Nothing delights the inner streetspotter in me more than to see a creatively dressed, misunderstood artist wandering down the street or palavering in a colourful bar. Imagine my excitement when the first images of the Burberry Prorsum RTW fall line for men hit my little laptop screen. A catwalk filled with the gorgeous reincarnations of early 20th century British painters.

According to the designer, Christopher Bailey, who is also the brand’s chief creative officer and chief executive-designate, the line was inspired by artists such as Lucian Freud, Ben Nicholson, Christopher Wood and Duncan Grant.

“Painters on a journey, romantic painters with a masculine point of view, and the artists’ efforts at self-expression.”

Long patterned scarves, classic coats with a twist, chunky sweaters and silk shirts dominated the intriguing look. But also, attention to detail must be given. Not only is it hard to overlook the big leather and suede bags the models carried around,but also the city street map and floral prints that were used to create the fabric’s patterns are quite interesting and amusing. I am glad to see it come back as a theme in the fall line for women as well.

The Burberry Prorsum fall line for women is also all about texture, but had more of a “Downton Abbey” vibe to it. And again attention to detail was payed. The whole line is a patchwork of all kinds of fabric and unusual patterns in odd, but fascinating combinations:

Again the quirky designs complete the collection. T-shirts, blouses and coats with local landmarks and citymaps printed on them, keep the look light and fresh. While the creative and playful use of textiles and colours keeps it interesting and gives the whole collection a bit of an edge.

To see the full collection, watch the link to the WWD slideshow below: